Gov. Ron DeSantis has floated the possibility of bussing migrants to Delaware for most of 2022, but Texas’ recent adoption of a similar policy may make the idea completely unnecessary.
The Republican governor’s 12 million dollar program may never need to be rolled out thanks to Texas’ actions, he told reporters in Tallahassee on Tuesday morning.
“I think because of what Texas has done, I actually think that’s taken a lot of pressure off us,”
Texas has been bussing migrants to Washington DC and New York City to rebuke President Biden’s border policies through a program called “Operation Lone Star.” Texas and other Mexican bordering states tend to bear the brunt of border policies, and this program aims to share the effect. The program is voluntary and only for documented immigrants, of which nearly 7,000 have been sent.
Subscribe to the Florida Jolt Newsletter!
DeSantis was planning a similar program, initially proposing 8 million to contract the private bussing companies to bring migrants to Biden’s home state of Delaware. The legislature agreed and committed 12 million to the project, putting it under the authority of the Florida Department of Transportation. However, despite the plan becoming actionable on July 1st, no progress has yet been made.
DeSantis suggested the reason for this may be a lack of necessity brought about by Texas’ policy.
“I think because Texas has done that, we haven’t seen what I was expecting we would see,”
DeSantis’s plans recently came under fire with Cuban immigrants from across the political spectrum.
Bussing recent arrival seeking asylum to Delaware by force shows exactly who Ron Desantis is – a political opportunist willing to do whatever it takes to win votes, even at the expense of the Cuban community. #shame #DeSantisIsAFacist
— Cubanos Pa'lante (@cubanospalante) August 20, 2022
DeSantis has decided Cubans aren't welcome. Cuban immigrants have no place in His Florida. He will be bussing them north so Abbott & Ducey aren't worse Govs
Cubans not welcome in Florida South Fl care to comment?#DemVoice1#ResistanceUnited#FreshResistshttps://t.co/zP9C7sJvYi— Russ Fraley (@PappyParki) August 21, 2022
However, Lt. Governor Nuñez has condemned that interpretation, calling the misrepresentation “offensive.” She clarified that there is a difference between asylum seekers and illegal immigrants and that not all Cuban immigrants will be subject to this policy if ever enacted.
— Jeanette M. Nuñez (@JeanetteNunezFL) August 22, 2022
Additional stories you may want to read:
